[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 21 (Friday, January 31, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5633-5634]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-01777]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XP007]


Pacific Island Fisheries; Western Pacific Stock Assessment 
Review; Public Meeting

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice; public meeting.

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SUMMARY: NMFS and the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council 
(Council) will convene a Western Pacific Stock Assessment Review 
(WPSAR) of a 2020 benchmark stock assessment for Hawaii gray jobfish 
(uku).

DATES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for meeting dates and times and 
daily agenda.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Council office, 1164 Bishop 
St., Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI 96813.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Seki, Director, NMFS Pacific 
Islands Fisheries Science Center, tel (808) 725-5360, fax (808) 725-
5360, email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NMFS Pacific Islands Fisheries Science 
Center (PIFSC) conducted a single-species benchmark stock assessment of 
the gray jobfish (uku, Aprion virescens) in the main Hawaiian Islands. 
PIFSC

[[Page 5634]]

previously conducted a stock assessment for uku in 2017 using a data-
limited length-based approach. The 2020 benchmark assessment diverges 
significantly from the 2017 assessment in that it implements the first 
integrated assessment of a domestic stock in the U.S. Pacific Islands 
Region. The integrated assessment uses the Stock Synthesis (v. 3.30) 
framework to integrate catch per unit effort indices, size frequency, 
diver survey, and catch data into a single age-structured model. PIFSC 
used this integrated model to estimate biomass and stock status through 
time, and evaluated stock status against the maximum sustainable yield 
based reference points described in the Council's Fishery Ecosystem 
Plan for the Hawaii Archipelago. The 2020 assessment provides 
projections to inform management setting of acceptable biological catch 
and annual catch limits for 2020-2026.

Meeting Agenda

    The WPSAR panel will meet from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. The 
agenda order may change, and the meeting will run as late as necessary 
to complete scheduled business.

Day 1, Monday February 24

1. Welcome and Introductions.
2. Background information--Objectives and Terms of Reference.
    a. Fishery Operation.
    b. Fishery Management.
3. History of stock assessments and reviews.
4. Data.
    a. Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources Fishing Report System and 
Hawaii Marine Recreational Fishery Survey.
    b. Life history information.
    c. Other.
5. Presentation and review of stock assessment.

Day 2, Tuesday February 25

6. Continue presentation and review of stock assessment.

Day 3, Wednesday February 26

7. Continue review of stock assessment.

Day 4, Thursday February 27

8. Continue review of stock assessment.
9. Public comment period.
10. Panel discussions (closed to the public).

Day 5, Friday February 28

11. Continue panel discussions (closed, morning).
12. Panel presents recommendations (afternoon).
13. Adjourn.

Special Accommodations

    This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. 
Please direct requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids to Michael Seki (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT 
section above) at least five days prior to the meeting date.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: January 27, 2020.
Karyl K. Brewster-Geisz,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-01777 Filed 1-30-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P